CHINAWARE

China is a term used for crockery whether bone china(expensive and fine), earthenware (opaque and cheaper) or vitrified(metallised). Most catering crockery used nowadays tends to be

vitrified earthenware, which is very durable and haven beenstrengthened. Crockery is also usually given rolled edges to make itmore chip resistant.Chinaware is made of silica, soda ash, and china clay, glazedto give a fine finish. Chinaware can be found in different colours anddesigns which are always coated with glaze. Chinaware is moreresistant to heat than glassware. There are various classification ofcatering china. They are:Porcelain Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heatingselected and refined materials, which often includesclay of kaolinite clay, to high temperatures. The rawmaterials for porcelain, when mixed with water, form aplastic body that can be worked to a required shapebefore firing in a kiln at temperatures between 1200°Cand 1400°C. The toughness, strength, andtranslucence of porcelain arise mainly from theformation of glass at high temperatures and themineral mullite within the fired body.Bone China Bone china is porcelain made of clay mixed with boneash. This is very fine, hard china that is veryexpensive. The decorations are to be found under theglaze only. The price of bone china puts it out of reachof the majority of everyday caterers, and only a few ofthe top class hotels and restaurants would use it. Therange of design, pattern and colour is very wide andthere is something to suit all occasions and situations.Earthenware Earthenware may sometimes be as thin as bonechina and other porcelains, though it is not translucentand is more easily chipped. Earthenware is also lessstrong, less tough, and more porous than stoneware,but its low cost and easier working compensate forthese deficiencies. Due to its higher porosity,earthenware must usually be glazed in order to bewatertight.Stoneware Stoneware is a hard pottery made from siliceouspaste, fired at high temperature to vitrify (makeglassy) the body. Stoneware is heavier and moreopaque than porcelain. The usual color of firedstoneware tends to be grayish, though there may be awide range of colors, depending on the clay. It hasbeen produced in China since ancient times and is theforerunner of Chinese porcelain.